Body supporting device

ABSTRACT

A body supporting device, such as a chaise lounge, which includes a generally rectangular flexible body supporting sheet, which may be of fabric or the like, and which is supported at its short ends by a frame, the frame including a single continuous tubular member having a Z-shaped base portion and two end portions, the end portions having first members connected to the free ends of the Z-shaped base portion and extending upwardly and outwardly in a generally vertical longitudinal plane and at an angle to the horizontal and second members connected to the free ends of the first members and extending transversely in a generally horizontal plane and to which the ends of the body supporting sheet are attached.

United States Patent Bernstien July 3, 1973 1 BODY SUPPORTING DEVICEPrimary Examiner-Casmir A Nunberg [76] lnventor: Joseph Bernstien, 5117Hesperia Alwmeyflpaul Adams Avenue, Encino, Calif. 91316 a [57] ABSTRACT[22] Filed: Aug. 23, 1971 Appl. No.: 174,075

US. Cl 5/110, 5/112, 297/439 A body supporting device, such as a chaiselounge, which includes a generally rectangular flexible body supportingsheet, which may be of fabric or the like, and which is supported at itsshort ends by a frame, the frame including a single continuous tubularmember having a Z-shaped base portion and two end portions, the endportions having first members connected to the free ends of the Z-shapedbase portion and extending upwardly and outwardly in a generallyvertical longitudinal plane and at an angle to the horizontal and secondmembers connected to the free ends of the first members and extendingtransversely in a generally horizontal plane and to which the ends ofthe body supporting sheet are attached.

10 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures BODY SUPPORTING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION The present invention is related to body supporting devicesand is particularly adaptable to a hammocklike chaise lounge forsupporting a person in a reclining position. Of course, hammock deviceshave long been known in the prior art including devices in which theflexible body supporting member is supported from a frame rather than tofixed objects that form no part of the entire device. The difficultywith the prior art devices is that such frames have awkward or unsightlyappearances in order to achieve the measure of stability required tosupport a hammock. Another disadvantage of the prior art devices is thatthe frames were constructed of a plurality of structural members, suchas tubing, and required welding or fasteners to fabricate a completedframe. Obviously, the labor costs involved in fabrication havematerially increased the manufacturing cost of such devices. Anotherdifficulty is that such devices have had a frame which was large andcumbersome after fabrication and not capable of being collapsed so as tocomplicate and increase the cost of shipping and storage of suchdevices. Other disadvantages of such prior art devices which the presentinvention overcomes also exist.

GENERAL SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In light of the above-mentioneddisadvantages of the prior art devices, it is a general object of thepresent invention to provide a body supporting device which willcomfortably support a person in the reclining position and whichincludes a frame of one piece construction that is extremely stable andis pleasant in appearance. It is another object to provide a frame for abody supporting device as above described which has frame membersconnected to the body supporting sheet that are cantilevered from a baseportion and constructed of a resilient material to permit the frame toflex under load and provide a comfortable reclining position. It isanother object and advantage of the present invention to provide a bodysupporting device in which the frame and body supporting sheet may beeasily assembled without the use of fasteners, connectors, or the like.Still another advantage of the present invention is to provide a bodysupporting member which includes a stretcher bar adjacent the ends ofthe body supporting sheet to prevent the sheet from gathering orcollapsing transversely when supporting a person in a recliningposition. In one embodiment of the invention, there is incorporated theadvantage of collapsibility so as to facilitate shipping, storage andease of assembly from the I collapsed to the operative position.

Generally stated, the body supporting device of the present inventionfor comfortably supporting one or more persons in a sitting or areclining position includes an elongated body support connected at itsopposite ends to a frame which has a base portion of elongated Z shape,and a pair of side portions each having a first upwardly extendingmember connected at its lower end to one of the free ends of theZ-shaped base portion a nd a second member connected at one end to theupper end of the first member and disposed generally in a horizontalposition to which the elongated body support is connected.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a body supporting device constructed inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the frame of the body supporting deviceshown in FIG. 1 with the elongated body support shown in phantom lines;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the device shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an end elevation view of the device shown in FIGS. 2 and 3;

FIG. 5 is a detailed sectional view .of the elongated body support and aportion of the frame illustrating the details of the connecting means;

FIG. 6 is a detailed sectional view of a portion of the frame baseillustrating exemplary means for collapsing the frame during storageand/or shipping; and

FIG. 7 is a detailed sectional view of the collapsing means shown inFIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to thedrawing, there is shown a body supporting device which includes a frameindicated generally at 10, and an elongated body support indicatedgenerally at 30. The body supporting device of the exemplary embodimentmay be constructed as a chaise lounge or hammock for supporting one ortwo persons in a seated position or for supporting a person in areclining position. It will be obvious that the supporting device of thepresent invention may take other forms and shape which utilize theproportions and the arrangement of the frame members as more fullydescribed hereinafter to provide the advantage of the invention.

The frame 10, in the exemplary embodiment, comprises a single continuousframe member having a base portion 11 and side portions 12, 13. Thesingle continuous member may be in the form of tubing although othercross-sectional shapes may be employed. The tubing is preferably ofmetal, such as steel, although other types of tubing, such asfiberglass, which has the requisite structural rigidity and resiliencycould also be utilized. The base portion 11 has an elongated Z shape(when viewed from the bottom having a diagonal member 14, connected atits opposite ends to a pair of transversely positioned members or legs15, 16 which, as may be seen in FIG. 3, are in a flat horizontal plane.The transversely extending legs 15, 16 are connected to the diagonalmember 14 through arcuate portions l7, 18 which have a radius convenientfor fabrication from a single continuous steel tubular member.

The side portions 12, 13 each comprise a first upwardly extending member19, 20, respectively, connected to the free ends of the Z-shaped baseportion transversely extending legs 15, 16 respectively. In theexemplary embodiment, the upwardly extending members 19, 20 are disposedin longitudinally extending substantially vertical planes on oppositesides of the supporting device. The first members 19, 20 of the sideportions 12, 13 also extend outwardly away from one another at an angleto the horizontal of approximately 45". While the present invention isnot limited to the specific angular orientation of the first memberswith respect to the horizontal, it has been found that such angle ispreferable to provide proper height and stability proportions and permitresilient flexing when a person is supported on the elongated bodysupport 11.

Each of the first members 19, are attached to the base portiontransversely extending member 15, 16, through arcuate portions 21, 21ahaving a radius suitable for fabrication.

At the upper ends of each of the first members 19, 20 there are providedsecond members 22, 23 extending transversely in a generally horizontalplane and spaced above the surface upon which the supporting devicerests. The second members 22, 23 are also connected through arcuateportions 24, 25 to the first members 19, 20 with a bend radius suitablefor the material and size of the member used to construct the frame 10.

In the drawing, the frame 10 is substantially to scale so as to disclosethe proportions and arrangement of the members comprising the frame asrequired to obtain the stability which forms an important feature of thepresent invention. In a typical construction, the longitudinal distancebetween the side portion second members 22, 23 may be approximately 92inches where the device is suited to accommodate a person in thereclining position. The longitudinal distance between the transverselyextending members 15, 16 of the Z-shaped portion may be approximately 48inches and the transverse or lateral dimension of the device may beapproximately 28 inches. The first members'l9, 20 of the side portionshave a length of approximately 33 inches so as to position the secondmembers 22, 23 approximately 24 inches above the surface upon which thesupporting device rests. The exemplary construction having the size andproportions just described, is made of 1 k inch O.D. steel tubing havinga 0.095 inch thickness wall and may bee cold rolled. A frame of thistype of material may have typical bend radii of approximately 4 to 5inches. It will be noted that the base portion legs 15, 16 arelongitudinally spaced from one another a distance at least one half thelongitudinal distance between the side portion second members 22, 23.

In the exemplary embodiment, the elongated body support 30 may comprisea flexible sheet of fabric, plastic material or the like, indicated at31. As seen best in FIG. 5, the flexible sheet 31 may have a returnportion indicated at 32 to form a loop 33 which extends transversely andreceives the second members of the side portions of the frame. In theexemplary embodiment, there is also disclosed a rigid stretcher member34 which may be of metal, wood or the like and which is secured to theundersurface of the sheet 31 in a loop formed by stitching or heatsealing the return portion of the sheet at 35, 36. The stretcher bar ormember 34 prevents the sheet 31 from gathering or collapsingtransversely when supporting a person. For this purpose, the ends of theloop in which the stretcher bar 34 is received are closed by stitchingor sealing (not shown).

In FIG. 6, there is shown a modification of the exemplary embodimentdescribed in FIGS. 1 through 5 wherein each of the legs 15, 16 of theZ-shaped base portion are provided with means to permit collapsing ofthe frame for storage and/or shipment. In this exemplary embodiment,such means may comprise modified base portion transversely extendinglegs including a piece 16' fixedly secured to the base portiondiagonally extending member and a second portion 16" fixedly connectedto the first member 20 of the side portion 13. A solid bar 41 is fixedwithin the tube portion 16' so as to extend beyond the end thereof andis secured therein against rotation by a plurality of fasteners 42. Theportion of the bar 41 extending beyond the edge of the tubular portion16' includes a radial opening in which is disposed a spring 43 bearingagainst a plunger 44 and the frame portion 16" has an opening forreceiving the plunger 44. The side portion attached to the frame portion16" may thus be rotated with respect to the base portion 16' andcollapsed or may be extended to its erect position whereupon the plunger44 will be biased into the registered opening in the tubular portion 16"so as to fix the side portion against rotation with respect to the baseportion.

It will be understood that the means 40 described above for permittingthe side portions 12, 13 to be rotated with respect to the base portion11 is only exemplary and various other locking devices may be used whichare conventional and would be well known to one having skill in the art.

From the preceding description, it will be apparent that theabove-described exemplary embodiments of the body supporting deviceincorporate all of the advantages previously mentioned and accomplishesthe objects set forth. Aside from the specific indications that certainfeatures of the present invention are only exemplary, it will be obviousto those having skill in the art that various other modifications andchanges may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A body supporting device for comfortably supporting one or morepersons in a sitting or reclining position, comprising:

a frame including a base portion having an elongated Z shape disposed ina horizontal plane and adapted to rest on a supporting surface, and apair of side portions each having a first upwardly extending memberconnected at one end to the upper end of said first member and disposedgenerally in a horizontal plane; and

an elongated body support connected at its opposite ends to said framesecond members.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said frame tubing comprises a singlecontinuous piece.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said side portion first members divergefrom one another.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said first members are disposed in alongitudinally extending generally vertical plane.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said side portions are pivotallymounted with respect to said base portions so that said side portionsmay be folded from their erect operative position to a collapsedposition.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said Z-shaped base portion legs arelongitudinally spaced from one another a distance at least one-half thelongitudinal distance between said side portion second members.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein said elongated body support comprises aflexible sheet and including a rigid stretcher member transverselysecured to said sheet adjacent its connected ends to prevent the sheetfrom gathering toward its longitudinal axis when a person is supportedthereby.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein said sheet ends have a return portionsecured adjacent each end to form a transversely extending loop forreceiving said frame second members and a second transversely extendingloop with closed ends for receiving said rigid stretcher memberconcealed therein.

6 9. A frame for a generally rectangular supporting deaway from oneanother and second members exvice including an elongated support carriedat its short di f m h upper d f id fi membgrs ends by the frameCompnsmg: in a generally horizontal plane and carried by said a single,continuous, tubular member having an elongated Z-shaped central portiondisposed in a gener- 5 10 Th f f l 9 h ally horizontal plane and adaptedto rest on a supe tame o 6 31m w elem Sal pomo'n porting surface and endportions first members are disposed in a generally vertical plane saidend portions including first members extending at an angle ofapproximately to the horizontalfrom said central portion upwardly andoutwardly support.

1. A body supporting device for comfortably supporting one or morepersons in a sitting or reclining position, comprising: a frameincluding a base portion having an elongated Z shape disposed in ahorizontal plane and adapted to rest on a supporting surface, and a pairof side portions each having a first upwardly extending member connectedat one end to the upper end of said first member and disposed generallyin a horizontal plane; and an elongated body support connected at itsopposite ends to said frame second members.
 2. The device of claim 1wherein said frame tubing comprises a single continuous piece.
 3. Thedevice of claim 1 wherein said side portion first members diverge fromone another.
 4. The device of claim 3 wherein said first members aredisposed in a longitudinally extending generally vertical plane.
 5. Thedevice of claim 1 wherein said side portions are pivotally mounted withrespect to said base portions so that said side portions may be foldedfrom their erect operative position to a collapsed position.
 6. Thedevice of claim 1 wherein said Z-shaped base portion legs arelongitudinally spaced from one another a distance at least one-half thelongitudinal distance between said side portion second members.
 7. Thedevice of claim 1 wherein said elongated body support comprises aflexible sheet and including a rigid stretcher member transverselysecured to said sheet adjacent its connected ends to prevent the sheetfrom gathering toward its longitudinal axis when a person is supportedthereby.
 8. The device of claim 7 wherein said sheet ends have a returnportion secured adjacent each end to form a transversely extending loopfor receiving said frame second members and a second transverselyextending loop with closed ends for receiving said rigid stretchermember concealed therein.
 9. A frame for a generally rectangularsupporting device including an elongated support carried at its shortends by the frame, comprising: a single, continuous, tubular memberhaving an elongated Z-shaped central portion disposed in a generallyhorizontal plane and adapted to rest on a supporting surface and endportions, said end portions including first members extending from saidcentral portion upwardly and outwardly away from one another and secondmembers extending from the upper ends of said first members in agenerally horizontal plane and carried by said support.
 10. The frame ofclaim 9 wherein said side portion first members are disposed in agenerally vertical plane at an angle of approximately 45* to thehorizontal.